Some information for you re: the Apple Mac G3. Hope this is useful.

Richard.

> ----------
> From: 	Peter[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To: 	p_childs
> Sent: 	01 March 1999 15:34
> To: 	Disforum (E-mail)
> Subject: 	The Apple MAC G3
> 
> The Apple MAC G3
> 
> Really nice machine ....to look at!!!
> 
> This machine is causing technical problems which it is worth letting you
> all
> know about so you know its limitations for the time being.
> 
> 1. The main communication system on it is the USB port - for the non
> technical this is a new  -not-yet-popular method the computer uses to talk
> to things like printers, scanner, zip drives, etc.
> It does not have the old SCSI port or the old printer port or the old
> AppleTalk port - Non techies - it wont talk in any other language!
> 
However, it does explain the price. People buying an iMac are meant to start
again and buy new peripherals as a completely new solution. USB peripherals
are, in many cases, cheaper than peripherals with conventional SCSI/Apple
Talk/Parallel ports.

> There are only TWO USB ports.
> 
> Consequence......if you have more than two peripheries (printers,
> Scanners,
> Zipdrives, modems, etc) you're bu*[log in to unmask]
> 
USB peripherals are designed to daisy-chain (cable from computer to printer,
from printer to scanner, from scanner to zip drive) etc. etc. Therefore you
only need two USB ports on a machine. Up to 127 devices (scanners etc.) can
be daisy chained off one USB port.

> Solution - 4way USB hub additional cost about £60
> 
Neater cableing, but daisy chaining is the answer.

> 2. The G3 is built with a CD drive but without a Floppy Drive. Allot of
> software for MAC comes on only floppy or with a floppy component e.g.
> Inspirations, Quark Express, ( Inspirations hope to change over soon).
> Almost all students find it useful to take work to Uni. on floppy.
> 
> Consequence..... Some software will be unloadable onto MACs until the
> manufacturer moves over to CD and this is more unlikely with the
> specialised
> software used by disabled students.
> Students will have their work isolated to their machine or hardcopy.
> 
> Solution...... We will get over this by buying a USB LS120 (non-techies -
> Advanced external floppy drive) to load the software. If the student has
> this it will cost about £120 and it is unlikely the student will find
> compatible equipment at Uni. to use for file transfer.
> 
The Superdisk LS120 is also backwards compatible - ie. it reads and writes
the standard 3.5" disks that we all know and love. Therefore access to
Inspiration and other packages only on 3.5" disks should not be a problem.

> The Student solution would be a USB ZIP drive. This format is reasonable
> popular with Unis., additional cost about £120. but will not enable them
> to
> re-load damaged software.
> 
Yes, data can be transferred by using ZIP disks, but certainly they are
unlikely to be as popular as the conventional 3.5" disks.

> Peter
> Student Support Manager
> Microlink PC
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.microlinkpc.co.uk
> 
> 


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